Conveyor chain

Abstract

A chain for conveying slices of a food product comprises a series of interlocking U shaped links each having a crossbar and two legs. The legs are provided with loops which partially surround the crossbar of an adjacent link. Some of the loops have an endpiece which is bent through at least 270° and is provided with an elongated tip which extends appreciably from and at substantially right angles to the plane of the chain. These tips penetrate the slices and ensure that they are carried by the chain without slippage. Preferably each endpiece having a tip is adjacent the outer portion of a leg so that the mechanism for lifting the slice from the chain can operate in the closest possible proximity to the tip in order to reduce bending of the slice.

I claim: 
     
       1. A chain for conveying slices of a food product including in combination a plurality of interlocking links formed of wire, each link having a U shape and comprising a crossbar and two legs, each leg being bent from the crossbar by more than 90° whereby the legs are inclined toward one another, the legs terminating in loops having endpieces which are bent through at least 180° and at least partially surround the crossbar of an adjacent link, a predetermined number of links having at least one loop the endpiece of which is bent through at least 270° and comprises an elongated tip extending appreciably from and at substantially right angles to the plane of the chain. 
     
     
       2. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the crossbar (6) and the legs (8) are essentially straight. 
     
     
       3. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the endpieces (13, 14) abut externally on the legs (8). 
     
     
       4. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the endpieces (13, 14) are essentially straight. 
     
     
       5. Conveyor chain as defined in claims 1, characterized in that the loops (15) comprise a curved part in the shape of particular a, in particular a semicircle, and an essentially straight part parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chain. 
     
     
       6. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that with the chain links (22, 23) a loop (25) adjoins each leg (8) of the U-shaped central part (6, 7, 8), said loop consisting of a curved part (20) in the shape of three-quarters of a circle as well as a straight endpiece (13, 14) adjoining said curved part and arranged at right angles to the plane of the chain belt, said endpiece abutting in each instance externally on the straight leg (8) and closing the loop (25). 
     
     
       7. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that with the chain links (2, 3, 4, 22, 23) the inside width between the legs (8) of the U-shaped central part (6, 7, 8) is 2.3 to 2.8 × the diameter d of the wire and the internal radius of the curved part (7) is 0.6 to 0.8d, the curved parts (10; 20) in the form of a partial circle have an internal radius of 0.65 to 0.85×d and the total length of the endpieces (13) is 2.5 to 2.9×d, that of the endpieces (14) including the tips (16) is 7.5 to 7.9×d overall. 
     
     
       8. Conveyor chain as defined in claims 1, characterized in that with the chain links (2, 3, 4, 22, 23) the inside width between the legs (8) of the U-shaped central part (6, 7, 8) is 2.5×the diameter d of the wire and the curved part (7) as well as the curved parts (10, 20) in the shape of a partial circle have an internal radius of 0.75×d and the total length of the endpieces (13) is 2.7×d, that of the endpieces including the tips (16) is 7.7×d overall. 
     
     
       9. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the tips (16) are formed by a bevel cut at an angle δ of 25° to 35°. 
     
     
       10. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the angle δ is 30°. 
     
     
       11. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the tips (16) are stamped in a conical shape as well as with one or more surfaces. 
     
     
       12. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that two chain links (2 and 4) with alternately arranged endpieces (14) with tips (16) and one chain link (3) with endpieces (13) without tips are coupled to one another each time. 
     
     
       13. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that chain links bearing tips (16) on both endpieces are present and that these chain links are connected with one another by at least one chain link without tips. 
     
     
       14. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that all the chain links (2, 3, 4, 22, 23) have alternately endpieces (14) with tips (16). 
     
     
       15. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that all the chain links (2, 3, 4, 22, 23) are equipped with endpieces (14) with tips (16). 
     
     
       16. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the belt chain comprises a chain end link (26) consisting of the U-shaped central part (6, 7, 8) and legs (8) adjoining said central part, said legs each having an open loop (28) and a returning section (29) with a length overall of 3.5 to 4.2×d. 
     
     
       17. Conveyor chain as defined in claim 16, characterized in that the returning section (29) of the open loop (28) has a length overall of 4.0×d.